Mitsubishi Repair: 1994 montero wont start, piezo buzzer, blown fuses

Question
QUESTION: Hello Linda! I have a 1994 Montero with the following symptoms: When I insert the key and turn to ACC I can barely hear the piezo buzzer, the lights are dim, and as soon as I bump the start everything goes dead for about 10 minutes. When the key is just inserted and i try to turn on the lights or the hazard lights the relays buzz. I also heard other relays buzz when the problem first started but they have stopped. The battery is good, the cables are good, this was not an intermittent problem, it just happened. I did have some "strange" electrical things happen with the AC kicking on and the park/neutral starting but this was a while ago and didnt happen all the time. I also checked the ECU for any visual problems and it was VERY clean and there were no leaking capacitors. I also disconnected the starter ignition wire to see if that made a difference, nothing. The battery does not seem to drain when the key is out or off. All fuseable links seem intact, no other blown fuses... so I am at a loss here and I hope you can provide some insight as to where to look for this problem. Thank you

ANSWER: Roy: It sounds like to me there is not enough power to pull the starter. Or else something has locked up on your engine. So the starter can not turn the engine to get it to start. So the car will not start, have you checked the timing belt? Have you ever replaced that timing belt? Could be it just let go, and so the engine will not start because of that. If you push the starter to turn the engine without the timing belt, everything would go dead because it can not start something turning without that belt? So why not check the timing belt and see where that will lead you. I know there seems to be a lot of these belts breaking of late. So keep me posted too. Hope this helps and good luck! Linda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Linda,

The engine and starter are fine, this is an electrical problem. Just putting the key in the ignition and turning the headlights on makes the relays hum and the lights dont come on, Emergency flashers do the same. The first thing I did when this happened was I disconnected the ignition wire to the starter, I still have the electrical problem, the starter is fine.  

Answer
Roy: Ok, then you need to have a repair manual for your car and get a voltmeter. You use the manual to know what readings you should be getting. Start with the battery and work your way around the engine till you find your problem. I would say a short. Where two wires or more are rubbing together and so pulling the power away from other things. Could be the power is running into a ground and so it is just gone. Have you checked all the relays to make sure they are ok, the larger fuses too? I know the starter is ok, but something is pulling the power away from the starter to keep it from turning over the engine. How about the coil is it good? You need to check around with this voltmeter and it will show you, your problem. I would love to be able to say, ok, Roy this is the problem. But it is something you are going to have to do yourself with this voltmeter and manual. Wish I could help you more but sometimes a person just has to do his own thing with his car. Take care now: Linda